Etymology Map
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Breeze

2 stages from Spanish to English.

Today it means a gentle wind

Where does the word "breeze" come from? It comes from Spanish briza, adopted directly into English (1560s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
briza
Spanish · 1500s
"north-east wind"
probably the Spanish word for the north-east trade wind of the Caribbean
2
Stage 2 of 2
breeze
English · 1560s
"gentle wind"
sailors first used it for the Caribbean trade wind; by the 1620s it meant any light wind
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Read the full story

Breeze’s story begins in Spanish: briza meant “north-east wind.” Probably the Spanish word for the north-east trade wind of the Caribbean. It reached English by 1560s as breeze. Sailors first used it for the Caribbean trade wind; by the 1620s it meant any light wind. Today, breeze means a gentle wind.